Pressure selector for wringers



Aug. 22, 1950 E. E. FOSTER PRESSURE SELECTOR EoR wRINGERs 3 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed ooi. a, 1945 Invamaton A ug. 22, 1950 E. E. FOSTER PRESSURESELECTOR FOR WRINGERS 3 sheets-'sheet 2 Filed oct. a, 194'5 Aug. 22,1950 E. E. FOSTER PRESSURE SELECTOR FOR WRINGERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledOct. 8, 1945 Patented Aug. 22, A1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE2,519,363 PRESSURE SELECTOR FOR WRINGERS Edwin E. Foster, Austin, Tex.

Application October 8, 1945, Serial No. 620,885

(Cl. 68--262)r Claims; l

This invention relates to pressure selectors for wringers and the likein which the usual pressure adjustment device of a wringer is replacedby an improved adjustor in the form of a pressure selector for adjustingthe force of the spring of the wringer.

An objectl of this invention is to provide the pressure leaf spring forthe rolls with a variable iulcrum device to impart the effect of varyingthe effective leverage of the leaf spring which is operative between thestationary 'top of the wringer and the movable upper roll. In otherwords, the invention aims to provide a system for adjusting the wringerpressure of a leaf lspring type wringer such as shown for example inPatent No. 2,312,762, March 2, 1943, by means to utilize the center ofthe spring for low pressure and by using two points about half way between the center and the ends ofthe spring for medium pressure, and byshifting the fulcrum still further towards the ends of the leaf springfor high pressure. In the known types of wringers, the adjusting of thepressure is accomplished by a screw member which tightens down furtherto load the spring for the higher pressores and this preloading of thespring renders it hard to operate the toggle to reset the latter' onhigh and medium pressures. AV further ob-V ject of the inventiontherefore resides in pro# viding 'a pressure selector which can beeasily moved when the toggle is released and the toggle can be resetmuch easier. A still further ob'- ect of the invention resides inproviding a de vice which will impart to the leaf spring differentforces, thereby imparting the effect of having three different springs,each of different strength, which is due to the use of a differentleverage for each pressure position.

The important feature of the invention therefore resides in theprovision of an adjustable fulcrum or different fulcrum positions on theleaf spring to obtain diierent effective pressures on the wringer rolls.

Further objects will be apparent :from the following description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure i is a side view partly in section of the top portion of thewringer showing one form` of pressure selector,

Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section of the top portion of thewringer,

Fig. 3 is a plan view partly in section of the pressure selector,

Fig. 4 is a side View partly in section of the top portion of thewringer showing a second form of pressure selector,

Fig. 5 is an end view partly in section of the wringer of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a plan view partly in section of the, pressure selector ofFigsfi and 5, and

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a detail.

A U-shaped cam member I is suitably secured, for instance by welding, tothe top member 2 of the wringer, and this` camA member is provided withsurfaces I6, I'I and I8 at the left end, Fig. l, and surfaces I9, 20, 2Iand 22 at the right end.

A shiftable or adjustable lever or member comprises a pair of shiftinglinks 3 and auxiliary shifting links 13r interconnected by fulcrum pins5, 6 and i of which pin 5 at the left end, Fig. 3, interconnects links3, pin 6 interconnects links 3 and e, and pin 'I interconnects links 4.The shifting links 3 converge at 23 to form a pro* jecting arm 24terminating in a control knob 8. The arm 24 extends through a slot 9 inthe top member 2.

A fourth pivot pin I0 is clamped to the center of the leaf spring 25 bymeans of a spring clip Il. A round headed rivet I2, Fig. 7, is bradded`to the pin I0 and nts into a depression 26 in the top of the leafspring. The pin Il!V canl move downward, Fig. l, in a lpair of slots I3Vinthe top member I and this pin ID can move downward in the slots I3 asthicker material is introducedL between the rolls of the wringer and theends of the leaf spring move upward about the fulcrum. points 5 and I inthe high pressure position.

The spring 25 may be set to impart any num-- ber of pressures or forceson the wringer rolls dependent upon the number of cam surfaces which areprovided in the U-shaped member I but for the usual type of wringer for'domestic and commercial use three different .pressure p1ositions aresuflicient as indicated in Fig.- 3 by the terms High, Medium and Low,and of which the positions for the actuatingy or setti-ng knob 8 areindicated in Fig. l` by H, M and L, which correspond to theinst-mentioned posi tions for Fig. 3. Fig. l also shows the usualpressure release bar I4 and the toggle member t5.

The device operates als follows:

Fig. 1 shows the pressure selectorV in its high pressure position inwhich the spring 25 has its' fu-lcrum points at the' full line pinpositions 5 and l, the latter bearing against the surfacesIG and 22respectively of the cam member I. this position pin 6i is not' incontaetwith the earnmember I. To chan-ge to medi-um pressure, the.pressure releasey bar I4 is touched. lightly to the tog-gie member I5 toremovey the pressure of the spring 25, and with the pressure thusieiioved the knob 8 is shifted to the right, Fig. 1, from the H to the Mposition. The toggle member I is then closed and a medium pressure willbe set up between the rolls due to the shifting of the fulcrum points onthe spring 25. In the M position the fulcrum pins have been shifted bythe levers 3 and 4 from the full line positions to the dotted linepositions 5', 6 and 1' in which new fulcrums 5 and E' are in contactwith the cam surfaces I1 and 20 respectively, the pin 1 at dotted lineposition 1 being ineffective as it does not react against the member I.The new fulcrum points 5 and 6 being nearer the center of the leafspring 25, the latter will impart a smaller or reduced pressure relativeto the high pressure position. If it is desired to reduce the pressurestill further or to its minimum amount, the knob 8 will be shiftedfarther to the right, Fig. l, to the position L, and in this positionthe pins 5, 6 and 1 have shifted to the positions 5", 6" and 1" in whichall three pins are ineffective relative to member I. Therefore in the Lposition the spring- 25 will flex about the center fulcrum I0. Thefulcrum I6 was of course ineffective in the M and I-I positions.

It will Ibe apparent that any number of further intermediate positionsare possible by providing suitable cam surfaces cn the member I, and thepositions may beV located at other places than those shown.

In a preferred construction of the pressure selector, the member forshifting the fulcrum points on the spring may be pivotally mountedinstead of slidably secured in the top of the wringer. Figs. 4 to 6illustrate'a preferred pivoted fulcrum shifter applied to the top member2 and a standard leaf spring 25.

In the top member 2 a slot 26 is provided at the toggle end thereof.Extending through this slot is a selector finger 21 integral with aselector lever or member 23 which is easily moved to the differentpressure positions when the toggle member, not shown, is released. Thisselector finger 21 is in such a position that it can be easily operatedwith the thumb or forefinger of the same hand that is holding the togglemember just prior to setting the toggle. In Fig. 6 the selector finger21 is in the full line position 43, which is on medium pressure. In thisposition bosses or fulcrum points or pins E9 and 3D connected to themember 2?, are directly over the leaf spring 25 and act as the doublefulcrum for the leaf spring to pivot about as ,bearing blocks 3l and 32move upward as the clothes force the upper roll I0 upward. The centerpivot 33 of the leaf spring moves downward in a' slot 34 in a bracket 35which is spot welded to a cam member or bracket 36. This double bracket36 is part of a stamping which is also provided with depressed portions31 and 38 against which the pressure of the fulcrums will be applied, aswill be described. During this operation the pivot pin 33 is held rmlyanchored to the center of the spring 25 by means of a U-shaped stampedmember 39 which extends completely underneath the leaf spring and isprovided with an interlocking washer 40 on top of the leaf spring. Thiswasher 4D is provided with an indentation which fits into theindentation in the center of the leaf spring. The pin 33 nts throughholes in the ends of the U-shaped member 39 and locks the washer 40 andthe U-shaped member 39 to the center of the leaf spring. The washer 4Uis provided with notches on the forward and back edges into which theupright portact with the spring 25.

tions of the U-shaped mem-ber 39 fits, to prevent the member 39 frommoving sideways. When the selector finger 21 is moved to the dotted lineposition 44 coinciding with an indicator mark High, Fig. 6, a second setof bosses or fulcrum points or pins 4I and 42 will be directly over thecenter of the leaf spring 25 and are nearer the ends of the leaf spring.Therefore, any upward movement of the. roll I0 will be opposed by astiier spring on account of the smaller leverage. During the time thatthe leaf spring 25 is pivoting about the two fulcrums 4I and 42, thecenter pivot pin 33 will move downward in the slot 34 of the bracket 35.The portions of the spring directly under the bosses 29 and 30 will, ofcourse, move away from the bosses 29 and 30. Therefore, the fact thatthey are still partly over the springl in the High position will notaffect the spring. When the selector finger 21 is moved to the dottedline position 45, marked Low, all of the bosses 29, 36, 4I and 42 willbe off of the spring 25 so that any upward movement of the upper rollwill cause the spring 25 to flex about the center fulcrum 33, whichwill. press against the upper edge of the slot 34 in the bracket 35.rl'his center' fulcrum 33 will, of course, give the effect of a softspring, which is more suitable for woolen clothes' which should not besubjected to extreme pressures.

A relatively weak guide spring 46 is clamped to the member 36 by meansof a screw 41 to keep the leaf spring 25 from moving clockwise about thepoint 33 during the time the toggle member is open and the selector 21is being shifted. Without this guide spring 46 the leaf spring 25 wouldhave a tendency to move up into the path of the bosses 42 and 3D andinterfere with the moving of the selector member 43. The selector member43 is pivoted to the top member I by means of a shoulder screw 48. Thebosses 29, 30, 4I and 42 are riveted or otherwise permanently fastenedto the selector member 28.

As shown in Fig. 6, the lever 28 is substantially S-shaped so that inthe Low position all the projecting points will be out of contact withthe spring and in the other two positions one of the two points 29 and30 or 4 I and 42 will be in con- It is obvious that in the High positionit is immaterial if points 30 and 29 contact the spring since theleverage is effective from the points 4I and 42. It is also obvious thatadditional projecting pins such as 29, 30, 4I and 42 may be provideddepending upon the number of adjustments which may be desired. It wouldalso be obvious to have a series of closely spaced projecting pins orpoints so that almost any degree of force may be placed on the rollerswithin the limits of the effective eifort of the spring.

It is obvious that further modifications are possible within the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a spring pressed roller type Wringer having a top member, apressure selector having a member secured to the under surface of thetop member and provided with projecting members, and an adjustablemember having a plurality of fulcrum points thereon to contact thespring for intermediate and high pressures on the rollers of the wringerand movable to a low pressure position, said fulcrum points cooperatingwith said projecting members 'when the fulcrum points are moved to varythe eifective leverage of the spring for said intermediate and highpressures and being out of pressure contact with the spring in the lowpressure position.

2. In a spring pressed roller type wringer having a leaf spring withpressure reaction at the center for low pressure, a pressure selectorcomprising an adjustable member having 4a plurality of fulcrum pointssecured thereto adapted to bear aaginst the spring for intermediate andhigh pressures, said member being shiftable to adjust one or the otherof the fulcrum points in contact with the spring spaced from the centerto vary the effective leverage of the spring for said intermediate andhigh pressures.

3. In combination with a wringer having a leaf spring pivotedintermediate its ends to impart a pressure on the rolls of the wringer,a pressure selector shiftably mounted in the wringer and cooperatingwith the spring to shorten the effective leverage of the spring forhigher pressures than that pressure imparted by the spring from itsintermediate effective point.

4. A pressure selector for the leaf spring of a roller type Wringercomprising a cam member secured above the spring, and means having aplurality of fulcrum points to contact the spring at points between thecenter and each end of the spring, said means being shiftable betweenthe cam member and the spring to adjust a respective fulcrum pointrelative to the cam member to vary the eiective leverage of the springand thereby the force of the spring.

5. A pressure selector according to claim 4, in which the means areshiftable longitudinally relative to the length of the spring.

6. A pressure selector according to claim 4, in which the means areslidably mounted to slide relative to the spring.

7. A pressure selector for the leaf spring of a roller type Wringercomprising a member having a pair of projecting portions and providedabove the spring, a lever in engagement with said projecting portionsand having a plurality of depending members secured adjacent each endthereof, and means for pivotally mounting the lever at a pointcoinciding with the center point of leverage of the spring, said leverbeing rotatably adjustable to move the depending members in contact withthe spring to change the effective leverage of the spring from thecenter point to an intermediate point.

8. A pressure selector for the leaf spring of a roller type wringercomprising a member having a pair of projecting portions and `providedabove the spring, a lever in engagement with said projecting portionsand having a substantial S-shape and a plurality of depending pinssecured adjacent to each end thereof, and means for pivotally mountingthe lever at a point coinciding with the center point of leverage of thespring, said lever being rotatably adjustable to move the depending pinsin contact with the spring to change the effective leverage of thespring from the center point to an intermediate point.

9. A pressure selector according to claim 8, in a wringer having acasing with a slot in which the lever is yprovided with a portion at oneend which projects through said slot in said casing to permit adjustmentof the lever and depending pins.

10. A pressure selector for the spring of a roller type wringer in whichthe spring has a center fulcrum point comprising a shiftably mountedmember having a plurality of fulcrum points to contact the spring atpoints intermediate the center and the ends of the spring forintermediate and high pressures on the rollers of the wringer, saidfulcrum points varying the effective leverage of the spring for saidintermediate and high pressures, and means for shifting said member andfulcrum points relative to said spring.

EDWIN E. FOSTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,015 Norris Aug. 24, 1875275,165 Donovan Apr. 3, 1883 2,221,408 Perkins Nov. 12, 1940 2,307,367Etten Jan. 5, 1943 2,323,332 Kauffman July 6, 1943

